xc racing RSS
When did XC racing get so gnarly?
It used to be that hardtails where the weapon of choice for World Cup level XC racers. But recent years have seen an explosion of slacker, full suspension bikes, wider rims, and even dropper posts. Why the shift? Two of America’s fastest pros explain.
The post When did XC racing get so gnarly? appeared first on Mountain Bike Review.
Tags
- All
- 10 Barrel
- 10 Things
- 10-speed
- 100%
- 101X
- 11-speed
- 12-Bit T-Drive
- 12-speed
- 1200
- 160mm
- 18 road
- 1up usa
- 1upUSA
- 1x
- 1x drivetrain
- 1x drivetrains
- 1x10
- 1x11
- 2'Fer
- 2.6"
- 2010 Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships
- 2013 Lights Shootout
- 2014 Enduro Compare-O
- 2014 Lights Shootout
- 2014 Mtbr Ultimate Base Camp
- 2014 World Championships
- 2015 Lights Shootout
- 2015 POV Camera Shootout
- 2016
- 2016 Lights Shootout
- 2017
- 2018 breck epic
- 2018 Enduro World Series
- 2018 Kamikaze Bike Games
- 2018 Mtbr Tire Buying Guide
- 2018 Tire Buyer's Guide
- 2018 Trail Tires
- 2018 XC Tires
- 2019 Leatt Bike Outerwear Line
- 2019 Mountain Bike National Championships
- 2019 Niner RIP 9 RDO
- 2019 Specialized Levo
- 2019 yt jeffsy
- 24 Hour Racing
- 24 Hour Solo World Championships
- 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo
- 24k gold
- 26
- 26er
- 27.5
- 27.5 plus mountain bike
- 27.5 wheels
- 27.5+
- 275C
- 29
- 29"
- 29+
- 29er
- 29er full suspension
- 29er mountain bike
- 29er mtb
- 29er wheels
- 29er-Tire
- 2FO
- 2FO 2.0
- 2Hundred7
- 2x
- 3 Minute Gaps
- 30 Gold
- 30-Seven
- 30X
- 34
- 34 Float
- 35
- 35mm
- 36
- 36 FLOAT
- 36 RC2
- 36 TALAS
- 360 Drop
- 3L Tech
- 3VO
- 40
- 40mm ID
- 429
- 429 MachSL
- 429 Trail
- 45NRTH
- 45NRTH Ragnarök
- 45NRTH Ragnarök Reflective
- 45NRTH shoes
- 45NRTH transition line
- 5010
- 5010 Carbon
- 575
- 5F
- 60x
- 611 active
- 611 race
- 650B
- 66sick
- 6by6
- 6D
- 6Fattie
- 7 Wonders of Oregon
- 7-speed
- 7mesh
- 9-46t TRSr
- 900
- 901
- 905
- 934 XC Race
- 941
- 9:Zero:7
- 9point8
- A Bike For You
- A Singletrack Mind
- a-line
- A/M Ventilated
- A1
- A1 Drone
- A2
- A35
- Aaron Albright
- Aaron Chase
- Aaron Gwin
- Abbey Bike Tools
- Abit Gear
- ABS2
- Absa Cape Epic
- AbsoluteBlack
- Abus
- Access4Bikes
- Access4Bikes Foundation
- Accuri
- Acre
- ACS-3
- Action Cam
- Action Cam Mini
- action camera
- ACV
- Adam Craig
- Adam Myerson
- ADDIX
- Adidas
- adjustable seatpost
- Adventure cross
- Adventure Travel
- advocacy
- AER
- Aero
- aerodynamics
- africa
- Afterburner
- Afterburner WideR
- Afton
- Afton Keegan
- Afton Shoes
- Afton Shoes Keegan
- Afton Shoes Vectal
- Afton Vectal
- Aggressor
- Agonist
- Agressor Enduro
- Ahearne Cycles
- Aion
- Air
- AIR 9 RDO
- Air Pro 3
- Air Volume Spacers
- Air-Liner
- Airborne
- Airborne Bicycles
- Airborne Goblin 29
- Airborne Systems
- Airbrake MX
- Aircraft
- AirDroids
- Airshot
- Airstream
- akrigg
- Alabama
- Alaskan
- Alban Lakata
- Albstadt
- Alcatraz
- Alchemy
- alchemy arktos
- Alchemy Bicycle Company
- Alchemy Goods
- alert
- Ales and Trails
- Alex Evans
- Alex McGuinnis
- aliso
- All Clear
- All Kids Bike
- All Mountain
- All Mountain Helmet Shootout
- All Mountain Rain
- All Mountain Style
- All Mountain Trail
- All Mountain World Championships
- Allan Cooke
- allen key
- allen keys
- Allison Atkinson
- AllMtn
- Alloy
- Alloy Drive
- Alma
- ALP-X
- ALP-X PRO 2in1 Shorts+
- ALP-X PRO WINDSTOPPER Soft Shell Zip-Off Jersey
- Alpac Attack
- Alpha
- Alpinestars
- Alsea+
- Altiitude
- altitude
- Altitude MSL 770 Rally
- Altitude Powerplay
- Altruiste
- Aluminum
- aluminum mountain bike
- aluminum mountain bike wheels
- aluminum wheels
- amaury pierron
- amazon
- amazon prime day
- Ambitions
- Ambush
- Ambush Comp
- American Classic
- Aminga E TR1
- Amir Kabbani
- Amiti-E+
- Amy Morrison
- Andreu Lacondeguy
- Andrew-Neethling
- angle fire
- Angry Singlespeeder
- Anita Gehrig
- Anka Martin
- Anne Caroline Chausson
- Anneke-Beerten
- Anniston
- Answer
- Answer Products
- Ante Up For Trails
- Anthem
- Anthem 27.5
- anthill
- Anthill Films
- Anthony Messere
- Antoine Bizet
- ANVL
- Apogee
- Apparel
- Apps
- April Fools' Day
- aptos
- ARC ASLT
- ARC DH
- Arch
- Arch CB7
- Archer Components
- Archi Enduro R.R.
- Ardent Race
- Argonaut Cycles
- Argus
- Arizona
- Arizona Scenic Trail
- Arkansas
- Arktos
- Armor
- Armstrong Connector
- Art's Cyclery
- Art's Cyclery Sponsored
- AS-R C
- AS100V
- AS1VR
- AS200V
- asheville
- Ashley Lloyd Thompson
- Ashville
- aspen
- Aspen/Snowmass
- ASRc
- Assegai
- ASSOS
- Astral
- ATB-1A
- ATB-1T
- Atherton
- Atherton Racing
- Athertons
- Atlas
- Atomik
- atomik carbon
- Attack Trail
- Attack Trail Pro Enduro
- ATX One DH
- Auburn
- Aurélien Fontenoy
- Auric
- Auric LT
- Auron
- Aurum
- Aurum HSP
- Austin
- Austria
- Aviemore
- AX
- axle
- AXON
- axs
- Azonic
- B-RAD
- B.A.D.
- B/01 Bike
- BA3 pack
- baby oil
- Bachelor 150
- back protection
- back protector
- BackCountry 360
- Backcountry Lifeline
- backcountry.com
- backflip
- Backloader
- Backpack
- BackStage
- BackSwing
- backyard
- Bad Habit
- bad habits
- Bags
- Baja Designs
- Balaclava
- Balance
- Balance Bike
- balance bikes
- Bali
- bamboo
- Bamboobee Bicycles
- Bang
- Bantam
- Bar Fly
- Bar Mitts
- Barcelona
- Barghest
- Barn Burner
- Baron
- bars
- Barstow
- Bartlett
- Barzo
- Bas Van Steenbergen
- Bash Guide
- bat cage
- battery
- BC
- BC Bike Race
- BC Bike Race 2018
- BC21R
- BC30
- BCBR
- BE Enduro Series
- BE2
- BE3
- Beam Pattern
- bear attack
- bear encounter
- Bearclaw
- Beast
- Beer
- Beinn 20 L
- Beinn 20L
- Belgian Waffle Ride
- Bell
- Bell All-Stars
- bell bike helmets
- Bell Built
- bell full-9
- Bell Helmets
- bell sixer
- bell super
- bell super 2r
- bell super 3r
- bell super dh
- Belltower
- Bellwether
- Ben Cruz
- Ben Jacques-Maynes
- BenchtopPro
- Bend
- bentonville
- Bergamont
- Bern
- bern helmets
- Bernard Kerr
- Best
- Best Bell Bike Helmets
- best bike floor pumps
- best bike lights
- Best Bike Locks
- Best Bike Racks for Mountain Bikers
- Best Bike Trainers
- best bikes under $1000
- best bikes under $2000
- best bikes under $3000
- Best Clipless Mountain Bike Shoes
- best commuter bike helmets
- Best Cycling Computers
- best deals
- best energy bars
- Best Giro Bike Helmets
- Best Hydration Packs
- Best Kids Bikes
- best mountain bike floor pumps
- Best Mountain Bike Helmets
- Best Mountain Bike Saddles
- Best Mountain Bikes
- best mountain bikes under $1000
- Best Mountain Bikes Under $2000
- Best Mountain Bikes Under $3000
- Best of
- best of 2017
- Best Sunglasses for Cycling
- Betabrand
- Beti Allride
- Beti Bike Bash
- BetterRide
- BetterRide.net
- Betty R 10
- Betty R 14
- Betty R 15
- Bianchi
- Bib
- Bicycle Bell
- Bicycle Blue Book
- bicycle brakes
- bicycle drivetrain
- Bicycle Stand
- bicycle tire sealant
- BicycleBlueBook.com
- Big Ed
- Big Honzo
- Big Mesa
- Big Mountain Enduro
- Big Mountain Enduro Series
- Big Sandy
- Big Street
- Big Tree Farms
- Big-One
- BigRig 760
- BigRig845
- bike bell
- Bike Camp
- bike case
- bike cleaner
- Bike Clinic
- bike crash
- bike deals
- bike demos
- Bike Fit
- bike frame geometry
- bike handlebars
- bike helmet
- bike helmets
- bike hitch racks
- bike jacket
- Bike Light
- bike lights
- Bike Lock
- bike locks
- Bike Mount
- Bike Park
- Bike Parkour
- bike patrol
- Bike Press Camp
- Bike Protection
- bike pump
- Bike Races
- bike racing
- Bike Rack
- bike racks
- bike saddles
- Bike Safety
- bike sale
- bike shop
- Bike Skills
- Bike Stand
- Bike Theft
- bike tires
- Bike to Work Britches
- bike tool
- bike tools
- bike wash
- bike workstand
- bike-art
- Bike-Demo
- BikeHard
- Bikenomics
- Bikepacking
- BikePark Wales
- bikesdirect
- Bikewagon
- BikeYoke
- BikeYoke Divine SL
- BikeYoke Divine SL dropper post
- bikeyoke dropper post
- bikeyoke squeezy
- bikeyoke triggy x
- bikeyoke trigyy
- bikeyoke willy
- Bill Nye
- BionX
- Birzman
- Bishop
- Bkool
- Black Adder
- Black Cat Bicycles
- black friday
- Black Label
- Black Sheep Films
- Blackborow
- Blackburn
- Blackburn Ranger
- Blackburn Water Cycle
- Blackburn Water Cycle film project
- Blackcomb Helicopters
- Blackhawk
- blaster bite valve
- Blaze
- Blika
- Blind Bobby
- Blinder Arc 1.7
- Blinder Arc 5.5
- Blinder Arc 640
- Blinder Road 3
- Blizzard
- blm
- Blok
- Blue Bottle
- Bluetooth
- Bluto
- BMC
- BMX
- BMX Riding Dubai
- Boa
- Boar
- Boar E350
- bobby-mcmullen
- Bobcat
- Bobtrax
- body armor
- body position
- Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area
- Bogus to the barrel
- bointrager helmets
- Bold Bikes
- Bold Cycles
- Bolle
- Boltron
- Bonk Breaker
- Bont
- Bontrager
- Bontrager Bat Cage
- Bontrager Carbon Care Wheel Loyalty Program
- Bontrager Flatline
- Bontrager Flatline Mountain Shoe
- Bontrager Flatline Mountain Shoe Review
- Bontrager Flatline shoes
- bontrager helmets
- Bontrager Montrose Elite
- bontrager tires
- bontrager tlr sealant
- Bontrager WaveCel
- bontrager wheels
- Bontrager XR3 Team Issue
- Boo Bicycles
- BOOGALOO
- Boogaloo race series
- Book
- Boombot REX
- Boombotix
- Boost
- Boost 148
- Boost 20
- Booster
- Boostinator
- Boot'r
- Bordo 6000
- Borealis
- borealis bikes
- BOS Suspension
- Bosch
- Bosch Kiox
- Boss
- Bottle Cage
- Bottle Pod
- bottom bracket
- boulder
- boulder colorado
- Box Components
- Boxcar
- BoXXer
- BP100
- brad treat
- Brage Vestavik
- brain tumor
- Brake Regulator
- Brakes
- Brandon Semenuk
- Brasil Ride
- Brass Knuckles
- Braydon Bringhurst
- Breadwinner Cycles
- Breakaway
- Breck Bike Week
- Breck Epic
- Breck Epic Mountain Bike Stage Race
- Breck Epic: Stage 4 video highlights
- breckenridge
- Breckenridge Resort
- Breezer
- Breezer Repack
- Brendan Fairclough
- Brendan Howey
- Brent Foes
- Brett Flemming
- Brett Rheeder
- Brett Tippie
- BRG Sports
- Brian Lopes
- Brian McCulloch
- British Columbia
- Bronson
- Bronson C
- Brood McDonald
- Brooks Cambium C15 All Weather
- Brose
- Brown County State Park
- Bryan Gregory
- Bryn Atkinson
- Bryna Blanchard
- BTR Fabrications
- BTR20
- bucket list
- Bucksaw
- Buddy Newman
- budget
- buffalo bike
- bulgaria
- Bulldozer
- Bullmoose
- bulls bike
- Bulls Bikes
- bum bag
- Bunny Hop
- burley
- bush
- Bushnell
- bushwhacker II helmet
- Buster 200
- Buster 600
- butyl tubes
- buyer's guide
- Buyer's Guides
- BX1
- BX3
- C-Quent
- C3
- CA
- Cable
- Cadet
- Cairn
- Cake Eater
- Caletti Cycles
- California fire relief campaign
- california wildfires
- Cam McCaul
- Cam Zink
- Camber
- cambria
- CamelBak
- CamelBak Low Rider
- Camera
- camera mount
- Cameras
- camping
- Canada
- Canadian Open DH
- Canari
- cancer
- CandlePower Tech
- Candy
- Candy 11
- Candy 7
- Cane Creek
- Cane Creek 110 Headset
- Cane Creek eeWings
- Cane Creek fork
- cane creek helm
- Cane Creek Helm Air
- Cane Creek Helm Air 29
- cane creek shocks
- cane creek suspension
- Cane Creek suspension fork
- Cane Creek trunnion mount
- Cane Creek trunnion mount shocks
- canfield balance formula
- Canfield Brothers
- canfield brothers riot
- Canis
- Cannondale
- cannondale downhill bike
- cannondale downhill bike prototype
- cannondale habit
- cannondale jekyll
- cannondale lefty
- Cannondale Moterra
- Cannondale Scalpel Si
- canyon
- Canyon Bikes
- canyon dude
- canyon g5 components
- Canyon Grand Canyon WMN
- canyon lux
- canyon neuron
- canyon neuron trail bike
- canyon sender
- Canyon Shapeshifter
- Canyon Shapeshifter 2.0
- canyon spectral
- Canyon Spectral CF 9.0 EX
- Canyon Spectral WMN
- canyon strive
- Canyon Strive 29
- Canyon Strive 29 launched
- Canyon Strive CFR
- Canyon Strive CFR 9.0
- Canyon Strive CFR 9.0 Team
- Canyon Strive CFR 9.0 Team First Ride Review
- Canyon Strive CFR 9.0 Team Review
- canyon torque
- Capra
- Captain Ahab
- captain ahab trail
- Caption Contest
- Car
- Carbine 275
- Carbine 29
- carbo rocket
- carbon
- carbon bar
- carbon bars
- carbon bicycle wheels
- carbon cockpit
- carbon cranks
- Carbon Drive
- carbon drive system
- carbon evo
- carbon fiber
- carbon fork
- carbon frame
- carbon frames
- carbon handlebars
- carbon mountain bike wheels
- Carbon Operator
- carbon stem
- carbon wheel
- Carbon Wheels
- Carbonator
- cargo bikes
- Carl Decker
- Carl Martens
- Carlin Dunne
- Caro Gehrig
- Carson Storch
- Carve
- Cascade Mountains
- Cascade Peak
- Cascade Peak Pro 29
- Cascadia
- casey br
- Casey Brown
- Casey Coffman
- Casey Devonshire
- cassette
- Cassie Maximenko
- castellli
- Catch
- CatEye
- Catharine Pendrel
- Catherine Pendrel
- CB4
- cecile ravanel
- Cedric Gracia
- Central 700 Front
- Central Front
- Centurion
- Ceramic Speed
- Certified Pre-Owned
- Cervelo
- Cévennes National Park
- Chad Battistone
- Chad Reed
- Chain
- chain catcher
- Chain Guide
- Chain Reaction Cycles
- Chain Suck
- ChainReactionCycles.com/Nukeproof
- chainring
- chainrings
- Challenge Tires
- chamber
- Chamber II
- Chameleon
- chamois
- Chamois Ointment
- chamois pad
- Champéry
- Charge Bikes
- Charger
- Charger Evo
- charity
- Charlie Kelly
- Chase
- Chasing Epic
- Chasing Trail
- Chasing Trail in Ibiza
- Châtel
- chest protector
- Chester
- Chilcotins
- Chile
- Chisel
- Chris Akrigg
- Chris Ball
- Chris Chance
- Chris Cocalis
- Chris Cross
- Chris King
- Chris Kovarik
- Chris Orr
- Chromag
- Chrome Industries
- Chronicle
- Chubby 43
- Chums
- Chunk 2.6
- Chute
- Ci31 Carbon
- Cinch
- Cipher
- clamp
- classic
- Classifieds
- Claudio Caluori
- Cleanwaste
- Cleary Bikes
- Clement Cycling
- Clementz
- Clif
- Clif Bar
- Clipless
- clipless mountain bike shoes
- clothing
- Club
- Club Ride Apparel
- Clug Clips
- CM-1000
- Co-op Cycles
- Co-op Cycles full suspension
- CO2
- Coach
- Coastal Crew
- Coastline Cycles Company
- Cobalt
- Cobalt 11
- Code R
- Code RSC
- Cody Gessel
- Cody Kelley
- cody kelly
- Cody Phillips
- coffee
- cog
- Cogburn
- coho
- coil shock
- Coldwater Mountain
- collegiate
- Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships
- collision
- Collosus N9
- Collosus T8
- Colorado
- Colorado Freeride Festival
- Colorado Trail
- Colossus
- column
- Commando
- Commencal
- Commencal Supreme V4
- commuter bike helmets
- Company Spotlight
- competition
- competitive cyclist
- Components
- Composite
- Compression Tuning System
- Compulsion
- Computrainer
- concussions
- Connor Fearon
- consumer demo
- consumer direct
- Contest
- Continental
- Contour
- Control SL
- Convict
- Cooker Maxi 1
- Cooler
- Coors
- Copper
- Copper Harbor
- Corazonas
- Core 2.0
- Cornering
- Coron
- Coron Air Carbon SPIN
- Coronado
- Corvus
- Costa Rica
- Countdown 1600
- CPR A-2000
- CR300
- Craigslist
- Crampon
- Crane pure helmet
- crank
- Crank Brothers
- crank brothers klic
- crank tank
- CrankBros
- Crankbrothers
- Crankbrothers Synthesis
- Crankbrothers Synthesis 11
- Crankbrothers Synthesis 11 Wheels
- Crankbrothers wheels
- Cranks
- crankset
- Crankworx
- Crankworx Joyride
- Crankworx Whistler
- Crash
- crash sensor
- Crater Lake
- Cratoni
- Crave
- Creig 24
- Crest
- Crest CB7
- crested bute mountain bike association
- Crested Butte
- Crested Butte Bike Week
- Crested Butte Fat Bike Race
- crested butte mountain resort
- Crestone
- Cross Country
- cross country race
- cross-country
- cross-country racing
- cross-country stage race
- cross-country tires
- crosscountry
- Crossing the Rubicon
- Crossmachine CX01
- Crossmark II
- Crossmax
- Crossmax Elite
- Crossmax Pro
- Crossmax XL
- Crossmax XL Pro
- Crossrange
- Crown
- Crown Gem
- Cruisers
- Crush
- CRUX
- Crystal Anthony
- CTS
- Culprit Bikes
- Cumberland